Is Genetically Modified Wheat the Solution to Celiac Disease?

I have celiac, and have my doubts about GMO wheat. I certainly wouldn't be likely to tolerate it, even if it can be made gluten-free. The other GMOs cause me severe stomach pains, for some reason and I have to avoid them. And no, I can't prove it, and since GMOs are not labeled, I can't even 'prove' that I ever ate them. I assume this GMO wheat will be drenched in herbicides, like the other GMOs. Also modified with viruses, bacteria and god only knows what else, like the other GMOs. No thank you. I'll just stay on my totally gluten free diet, like I have for the past 10 years. Much safer, and better for my health.

An absolute NO to anything GMO. Genetic modification is pure hubris.

I have been obligatorily gluten-free and eating organic for more than 15 years, and am usually mistaken for 20 years younger than my age.

No. We need more attention paid to the contamination of our food that's happened through the use of excessive pesticides, second-hand smoke and diesel fumes during harvesting and transport, and factory-farmed animals that are pumped with antibiotics and hormones designed to make them plumper and/or keep them alive under unhealthy conditions. We have contaminated the food chain so much. We should be cleaning it up, not using our energy to genetically modify foods. GMOs are creating new problems, and encourage us to feel that we can ignore the messes we've already made. I'm celiac and I can live without GMO wheat, designed to line some bigwig's pockets. Trust issues? You bet.

I have celiac, gluten ataxia and a wheat allergy. There is no way I will ever get near wheat again. Just think this through: genetically modified wheat already exists. There is no way you are ever going to control the wind or contamination if other strains. There is no way the majority gluten addicts are ever going to accept elimination of gluten. Then what? You are going to trust restaurant X that you are being served pure non-toxic wheat pasta and bread? You had better come to realize that wheat is variously toxic to everyone, and the human genes that make it so are many thousands of years older than the creation of wheat by hybridization of wild grasses.

No. We need more attention paid to the contamination of our food that's happened through the use of excessive pesticides, second-hand smoke and diesel fumes during harvesting and transport, and factory-farmed animals that are pumped with antibiotics and hormones designed to make them plumper and/or keep them alive under unhealthy conditions. We have contaminated the food chain so much. We should be cleaning it up, not using our energy to genetically modify foods. GMOs are creating new problems, and encourage us to feel that we can ignore the messes we've already made. I'm celiac and I can live without GMO wheat, designed to line some bigwig's pockets. Trust issues? You bet.

Agreed

NO. Not in a million years. GMOs should be banned forever.

I definitely think it's worth trying! And as usual if you're against it, you don't have to eat it. You can sit back and watch the rest of us enjoy!

This is absurd. Certainly people with celiacs are looking for gluten free options, but taking the gluten out of wheat does not make sense. The properties of wheat based products that we love (the chewiness of bread, the texture of cake and cookies) comes from gluten. Removing the gluten from wheat will not give you a product with similar properties to regular wheat, it will give you a product with the properties of other gluten-free wheat replacement options (rice flour, bean flour). We do not need gluten-free wheat. People with celiacs need gluten alternatives. This GMO effort is a waste of research money. We don't even need to discuss how GMOs are bad for farming methods, bad for natural cross pollination, bad for organic farmers, and bad for your health. This is a short sighted idea by someone who doesn't seem to understand exactly what gluten is and what it's properties are.

Amen!

Your comment is right on spot!

This is an interesting concept. I usually stay away from GMOs when I can but I would probably try this as long as it was proven safe for celiacs. Dee Kay is right though, the thing I miss about wheat is the gluten itself--crispy, chewy pizza, croissants, phyllo dough, yeast donuts, things that can't be replicated with gluten-free flours.

By the way, I always look forward to your articles, Jefferson. Thank you for keeping us informed!

This sounds great!

I agree completely. The only reason to make an issue of celiacs is to get food producers to leave wheat out and make healthier food. This is a people issue not just a celiac issue.

I have celiac, and have my doubts about GMO wheat. I certainly wouldn't be likely to tolerate it, even if it can be made gluten-free. The other GMOs cause me severe stomach pains, for some reason and I have to avoid them. And no, I can't prove it, and since GMOs are not labeled, I can't even 'prove' that I ever ate them. I assume this GMO wheat will be drenched in herbicides, like the other GMOs. Also modified with viruses, bacteria and god only knows what else, like the other GMOs. No thank you. I'll just stay on my totally gluten free diet, like I have for the past 10 years. Much safer, and better for my health.

Why do you assume GMO wheat will be "drenched in herbicides? I don't think GMO and organic are mutually exclusive. GMO wheat can save eyesight in developing countries.